Pasco superintendent to district staff: Take a break. Really.

As Pasco school students and employees prepare for a two-week vacation, superintendent Heather Fiorentino has a request for everyone: Please don't come to school during the break.

"You have dedicated people that this is spare time for them, so this is time for them to catch up on things or get things organized," Fiorentino explained to the Gradebook. "But everyone needs a break. It's been a very stressful year."

Not only that. If people stay out of the schools, they won't be turning on lights or computers, flushing toilets or running sinks. You get the picture.

Fiorentino figures the district might save a few thousand dollars if everyone really takes what she considers a well deserved holiday. And with budget cuts looming, every little bit helps.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.